The 25 six-car electric multiple units to be built by Siemens for Govia Thameslink Railway have been designated Class 717s.
They will enter traffic from towards the end of 2018, replacing 40 three-car Class 313s. The contract is worth £200 million and the trains will be built at Krefeld, in Germany.
They are similar to the Class 700s being built by Siemens for GTR (of which 16 are in the UK), but they must have end doors as per safety regulations due to their operation in the Moorgate Tunnels. The design of this is at an advanced stage, with construction due to start this year.
- For more on this, read RAIL 803, published on June 22.
- For more on GTR's Class 700 fleet, read RAIL 802, published today (June 8).
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Comments
Melvyn - 08/06/2016 23:24
We constantly hear from northerners complaints about the age of pacers yet the class 313s these class 717s will replace will be over 40 years old when they are replaced . These trains began life as experimental PEP stock and it was there advanced design more like a tube train than the slam door trains then widely used means they still look modern 40 years later ! It's a real pity that the Great Northern tunnels were not emulated more widely when the tube was built but in the days of tunnels built by hand size really did matter .
BigTone - 09/06/2016 00:19
Not the age of the Pacers but the ride and cheap bus fittings. Then if you are so envious of the Pacers, go ahead, have the things
Melvyn - 08/06/2016 23:26
We constantly hear from northerners complaints about the age of pacers yet the class 313s these class 717s will replace will be over 40 years old when they are replaced . These trains began life as experimental PEP stock and it was there advanced design more like a tube train than the slam door trains then widely used means they still look modern 40 years later ! It's a real pity that the Great Northern tunnels were not emulated more widely when the tube was built but in the days of tunnels built by hand size really did matter .
Andrewjgwilt1989 - 09/06/2016 20:51
Thought it was Class 701. But ok sounds fair to number these new trains as Class 717's and will be replacing the Class 313's used on Moorgate-Hertford North-Stevenage, Moorgate-Letchworth Garden City, Moorgate-Welwyn Garden City, King's Cross-Welwyn Garden City and King's Cross-Letchworth Garden City metro/outer-suburban services operated by GTR Great Northern along with GTR Thameslink's Class 700's to be operated between Cambridge-Brighton, Cambridge-Wimbledon, Peterborough-Brighton, Peterborough-Wimbledon and other routes occupied with Class 700's that will be operated on.
Ian - 09/06/2016 23:23
Even the fact the 313's are 40 years old there sisters are still in service 507 508 314 in other parts of the country. There replacements as 717 are still not like for like what happens in other parts of the country....
Andrew Heenan - 13/06/2016 17:51
MerseyRail has ordered replacements for the 507/508 stock. No plan has yet been announce for 314 replacement in Scotland, but these units, similar to 313s, but AC only, are in much better condition, and have had a decent refurb a few years ago. So they'll likely hang on for at least four more years.
Andrewjgwilt1989 - 10/06/2016 11:51
Im still confused about the Class 717 being numbered or classified for the new trains to be built for GTR Great Northern. But its good that Great Northern are ordering 25 6 carriage trains from Siemens to be used on the Moorgate line and on the Hertford Loop line. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_717
Melvyn - 11/06/2016 21:03
@ Ian Merseyrail are working up plans to replace the 507/508 trains which are based PEP stock like the 313s with replacement trains also having AC capability to allow services to be extended onto other electrified lines . Two major orders have recently been placed for Northern and TPE capable of both diesel and electric operation with TPE having trains capable of 125 mph ready for new/ upgraded lines and running east to west with possible joint HS2/3 running !
FrankH - 13/06/2016 12:43
Horse Dung 2 won't get past Crewe which is where the WCML congestion eases.
Melvyn - 13/06/2016 18:20
Article is about new. Trains for Thameslink services on inner suburban route from Moorgate !
FrankH - 25/06/2016 00:31
And you mentioned Northern, TPE and HS2/3 the latter of which my comment was aimed at.